Folding table



Aug. 17 ,1926. 1,596,753 y l L. R. MOORE FOLDING TABLE Filed NOV. 7,1924 lim Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES LEWIS R. MOORE, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application Med November 7, 1924. Serial No. 748,480.

This invention relates to improvements in tables, especially fol-;.`. mgtables.

An object of this invent-ion is to provide an improved folding tablehaving an improved leg hinge in which the leg is automatically latchedin the erected, or operative, position, and in which no lateral bracesof any kind are required. Another object of this invention is to providea folding table -having an improved leg hinge which not only enablesautomatic latching of the leg in the erected position but alsoconstitutes a part of the table frame. Other objects of the inventionare mentioned and described herein. v

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimproved folding table; Fig. 2 is a section in fragment taken on line2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating a table leg in the inoperative or foldedposition; Fig. 3 is a.

similar view showing the leg in the erected position and the hinge insection; Fig. 4 is a fragmental view illustrating a leg top and a hingeenlargedand in elevation; Fig. 5is a section taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4; and Fig. (i is a bottom plan view of a leg hinge. y

@n the drawings, similar numerals of reference indicate like partsthroughout the several views thereon.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates theoutside rectangular trarne section of a table which may comprise tourrails of wood suitably joined together at their ends, and the numerals2, 2 indicate the inside rectangular frame elevment composed of fourwood rails 2, 2 suitably secured together at their ends and to frameelements l, and also secured together by the metal leg hinge, ashereinaftery described.

'lhe upper face of the inside framerails 2 may be disposed in a-planesomewhat lower than the upper tace or edge of frame section 1 and isadapted to carry the thin table top 3, made of wood or other suitableInaterial, which may be secured thereto by screws, or otherwise in anysuitable manner, not shown. The table top 3 may be overlaid b v a cover4, of leather or other suitable material, the marginal edges thereof maybe gripped between frames 1 and 2. The upper edge of each rail ofoutside frame 1 may be somewhat rounded or convexed, in cross section,and may be covered with a strip 5 of felt, .or other suitable fabric,which strip may have its inside marginal ed e rigidly gripped betweenthe rails of the rame sections 1 and 2, and its outside marginal edgemay be secured to the outside face of frame 1 by the fastener strips 6which may besecured to frame 1 in any suitable manner. Angular metalcorner pieces 7 may be fastened to the table frame at each cornerthereof in any suitable manner.

The table may be provided with four folding legs 8, one only-beingshown, atthe corners thereof, said legs beinoj pivotally connected withthe table frame by a hinge. Inasmuch as all legs and hinges,respectively, are alike only one of each is illustrated in the drawing.The hinge element 9 is preferably formed of sheet .etal stamping in onepiece and comprises main U- shaped section which includes the parallelside walls 10 and 11, the fastener extension 12 integral with side wall11, and the substantially L-shaped extension 13 `formed onv the end orthe hinge web 111. The wall 11 and extension l2 of the hinge arearranged against the inside side wall of a rail of frame 2 and may berigidly secured thereto by a screw 15 which engages through the screwaperture 16 formed in hinge section 12, and the L-shaped hinge element13 has its lower leg disposed beneath the end of another rail of frame 2and rigidly secured thereto by a screw y 17 en aging through theaperture 18 therein. n this structure it should be noted that where theframe section 2 is composed of four wood rails arranged rectangularly,said frame rails are rigidly tied together by the hinge element 9 whichreally constitutes a meniber of the table frame when secured therein asdescribed, thereby effecting a very rigid and durable table framestructure.

The hinge element 13 has its upright leg formed somewhat inclined andcurved at its lower end to provide a cam face 19 thereon, an aperture2() being formed in said leg to receive the table leg latching means, ashereinafter described. The upper end of each leg 8 is pivotally mountedupon the hinge pin 21 which is disposed transversely of and has its endsrigidly secured in wallsl() and 11 of the hinge 9, whereby each leg maybe folded or swung to. the collapsed position beneath the table topparallel with a rail of frame section 2 (Fig. 2) or to the erected poityof'said arm being inwardly bent at 25 to form a yieldable cani elementadapted to engage the cam face 19 of the hinge eXtension 13.

In operation, and when it is desired to f use the table, the legs 8 areswung from the colla sed position to the erected position in whiclimovement Athe cam element 25 of the arm 22 first engages stationary cam19, thereby depressing the arm 22 inwardly and causing the stud 24 toslide along the. inner face of the upright leg of hingeI element 13until it reaches the aperture 2O with which it registers and immediatelyengages automatically by virtue of the springy quality of the arm 22,thereby rigidly latching the table leg in the erected position, in whichposition it is held without the use of braces of any character. Manualdepression of the arm 22 readily disengages the stud 24 from the socket20, whereby the table leg may be quickly restored to the collapsedposition beneath the table top.

The incorporation of the felt strip 5, which may be slightly elevated inrelation to the top 3, is very advantageous in preventing easydisplacement of playing cards from the table top when the table is usedas a car'd table, for the strip offers considerable resistance thereto,a much greater. resistance than a leather or wood table top would.

1. The combination with' a; frame, of a stationary channelled hingeelement mounted upon said frame, the web of said hinge element beingprovided with an angular extension which forms a combined cam elementand keeper, a leg pivoted to said hinge element, a 'resilientcompressible latching arm mounted upon said leg and movable therewith,and means for latching said leg to said keeper, said means including acomplementary stud and recess connection between said arm and keeper,said meansbeing effected by movement of said arm into engagement withthe cam section of said combined cam and keeper.

2. The combination with a frame, of a stationary channelled hingeelement mounted upon said frame, the web of said hinge being providedwith an angular downwardly extending extension which forms a combinedcam element and keeper, a leg pivoted within the channel of said hinge,a resilient compressible latching arm mounted upon said leg andmovable-therewith, and means for latching said `leg to said keeper, saidmeans including a stud carried by said arm and a recess formed in saidkeeper, said means being effected by movement of said arm intoengagement with the cam section of said combined cam and keeper. l

3. The combination with a frame, of a stationary channelled hingeelement mounted upon said'frame, the web of said hinge 75 being providedwith an integral downwardly projecting extension which forms a conibinedcam element and kee er, a fastener extension connected with sai combinedcam and keeper, a leg pivoted within the channel 80 of said inge,varesilient coinpressible latching arm mounted upon said leg and movabletherewith, and means lfor latching said leg to said keeper, said meansincluding a complementary stud and recess connection be- 35 tween saiarm and keeper, said connection being effected by movement of said arminto engagement with said cam section of the combined cam and keeper.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature 90 this 4th day of November,1924.

LEWIS R. MOORE.

